Information processing apparatus, method and storage medium for controlling power shifting based on whether search packet is serviceable

ABSTRACT

An apparatus determines, when receiving a packet transited via a network in a power saving mode, whether or not the packet is a packet according to a predetermined protocol. If the packet is determined to be the packet according to a predetermined protocol, the apparatus analyzes the data of a succeeding packet described in a data description language, and instructs the apparatus to return from the power saving mode to a normal power mode depending on an analysis result.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.12/748,074, filed Mar. 26, 2010, which claims priority from JapanesePatent Application No. 2009-082083 filed Mar. 30, 2009, which are herebyincorporated by reference herein in their entireties.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an information processing apparatusthat is connected to a network and is controlled to perform powersaving.

Description of the Related Art

One of the recent environmental activities in the industry isimprovement of the designs of information processing apparatuses such asprinters and multifunction peripherals for power saving. To achievepower saving, generally an information processing apparatus shifts to apower saving (waiting) mode from a normal power mode for less powerconsumption when no operation of an operation panel or no job entry forprinting via a network is detected during a predetermined period oftime. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-259906 discusses acommunication control apparatus having power saving control meansadapted to control operations of the apparatus in a power saving mode,in addition to normal operation control means adapted to control normaloperations. The power saving control means monitors packets from anetwork, and returns the communication control apparatus from the powersaving mode to a normal power mode when receiving a packet thatsatisfies a predetermined condition.

In the above conventional technology for returning from a power savingmode into a normal mode using a packet received from a network duringmonitoring, the return is determined based on whether the packet matcheswith a predetermined fixed packet pattern. The determination for theswitch from a power saving mode tends to be incorrect when the packetsreceived from a network have complicated structures. In the conventionaltechnology, the device is returned to a normal power mode based on anypacket that matches with a predetermined pattern. Accordingly, even ifas a result of the analysis of the succeeding data of the packet thereturn of the apparatus to the normal power mode is not necessary, theapparatus returns to the power mode. Accordingly, in the conventionaltechnology, there may be an issue regarding the needless return of anapparatus into a normal power mode, which results in waste of power andinefficient power saving.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of the present invention, an apparatus includes:a receiving unit configured to receive a packet transmitted via anetwork, while the apparatus is in a power saving mode, a determiningunit adapted to determine whether or not the received packet received isa packet according to a predetermined protocol, an analyzing unitconfigured to analyze succeeding packet data described in a datadescription language to produce an analysis result, in a case where thepacket is the packet according to the predetermined protocol, and aninstructing unit configured to instruct the apparatus to return from thepower saving mode to a normal power mode in response to the analysisresult.

Further features and aspects of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description of exemplaryembodiments with reference to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of the specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments, features,and aspects of the invention and, together with the description, serveto explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates a network system having an information processingapparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of aninformation processing apparatus.

FIG. 3A is a block diagram illustrating a software configuration of amain control unit in an information processing apparatus; and FIG. 3B isa block diagram illustrating a software configuration of a sub-controlunit of the information processing apparatus.

FIG. 4 illustrates a return packet pattern using SLP.

FIG. 5 illustrates a fixed pattern of WS-Discovery packets.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a Resolve command.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of a Probe command.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating operations of a sleep mode controlunit.

FIG. 9 illustrates an example of return information.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating operations of a return determinationunit.

FIG. 11 illustrates an example of an analysis result.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating operations of an XML processingunit.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating operations of a sleep mode controlunit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Various exemplary embodiments, features, and aspects of the inventionwill be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

A first exemplary embodiment is described below. FIG. 1 illustrates aconfiguration of a network system having an information processingapparatus according to the present invention. An information processingapparatus 101 is connected to a host computer 102 via a network 103 toenable mutual communication. The network 103 may be Local Area Network(LAN), WAN, or the Internet. The network 103 may be connected with orwithout wire. The network 103 may be connected to any apparatuses inaddition to the information processing apparatus 101 and the hostcomputer 102.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of theinformation processing apparatus 101. The information processingapparatus 101 in this exemplary embodiment is a multifunction peripheralequipped with a scanner and a printer, but the information processingapparatus 101 may be a single unit of a printer, a scanner or afacsimile apparatus, or a personal computer (PC), for example.

The information processing apparatus 101 includes a main control unit200 that is controlled by a MainCPU 201, and a sub-control unit 210 thatis controlled by a SubCPU 211, the main control unit 200 being connectedto the sub-control unit 210 via a PCI interface (not illustrated) usinga PCI bus. The main control unit 200 controls a reading control unit 204and a printing control unit 205, and implements the functions ofscanning, printing, and copying as an information processing apparatus.The information processing apparatus 101 includes a scanner unit (notillustrated) connected to the reading control unit 204, and a printerunit (not illustrated) connected to the printing control unit 205.

These functions are controlled by programs stored in a read only memory(ROM) 202 and a hard disk drive (HDD) 206, and the programs are read bya random access machine (RAM) 203 and executed by the MainCPU 201 whenthe information processing apparatus 101 is activated. In this way, theinformation processing apparatus 101 provides the functions of scanningand printing to the network as services, and the host computer on thenetwork is able to use the services provided by the informationprocessing apparatus 101 via the network 103.

The sub-control unit 210 is a Network Interface Card (NIC) transmittingand receiving network packets via a LAN control unit 214. Thesub-control unit 210 implements a minimum function for returning theinformation processing apparatus in the power saving mode into a normalpower mode. The function is controlled by a program stored in the a readonly memory (ROM) 212, and the program is read by a random accessmachine (RAM) 213 and executed by the SubCPU 211 when the informationprocessing apparatus 101 is activated. As described later, theinformation processing apparatus is returned from the power saving modebased on information that is transmitted from the main control unit 200to the sub-control unit 210 and stored in the RAM 203.

The power source control unit 220 can control the power supply to eachof the blocks in the information processing apparatus 101. Morespecifically, the power source control unit 220 stops power supply tothe main control unit 200 to return the main control unit 200 to thepower saving mode to lower the power consumed by the entire apparatus.In the information processing apparatus 101 of this exemplaryembodiment, the power source control unit 220 supplies power to both ofthe main control unit 200 and the sub-control unit 210 in the normalpower mode. In the power saving mode, the power source control unit 220supplies power only to the sub-control unit 210. In this mode, power isnot supplied to the main control unit 200.

FIG. 3A is a block diagram illustrating a software configuration of themain control unit 200 in the information processing apparatus 101. Thesoftware in each block is implemented in parallel by the MainCPU 201.

A normal mode control unit 301 controls operations of the informationprocessing apparatus 101 in the normal power mode (not in the powersaving mode). More specifically, the normal mode control unit 301controls the operations of the functions of scanning, printing, andcopying provided by the information processing apparatus 101. A returninformation management unit 303 manages and stores in the ROM 202 or HDD206 the information of conditions for returning the apparatus 101 fromthe power saving mode to the normal power mode. A sleep mode controlunit 302 obtains and transmits the return condition information managedby the return information management unit 303 to a Main-SubCPUcommunication unit 304, and sends an instruction to the power sourcecontrol unit 220 for returning to the power saving mode. The Main-SubCPUcommunication unit 304 communicates with the Sub-Main communication unit311 to transmit and receive information to and from the sub-control unit210.

FIG. 3B is a block diagram illustrating a software configuration of thesub-control unit 210 in the information processing apparatus 101. Thesoftware in each block is implemented in parallel by the SubCPU 211.

The Sub-MainCPU communication unit 311 communicates with the Main-Subcommunication unit 304 to transmit and receive information to and fromthe main control unit 200. The return information storage unit 312receives return condition information from the return informationmanagement unit 303 via the Sub-MainCPU communication unit 311, andstores the information in the ROM 212 or the RAM 213. The returndetermination unit 313 analyzes packets received from a networktransmitting and receiving unit 315, and determines whether or not toreturn the information processing apparatus 101 to the normal power modebased on the information in the return information storage unit 312. Thereturn determination unit 313 transmits the received packet to an XMLprocessing unit 314 and determines return based on the analysis resultin the cases where analysis of the XML data is performed for thedetermination for the return, as described later. The XML processingunit 314 analyzes XML data and transmits the analysis result to thereturn determination unit 313. The XML processing unit 314 has XMLparser to fetch a value specified by XML namespace name or element namefrom the XML data.

In the normal power mode, the packet received by the networktransmitting and receiving unit 315 is sent to the main control unit 200as it is via the Sub-MainCPU communication unit 311. In the power savingmode, the packet received by the network transmitting and receiving unit315 is sent to the return determination unit 313.

A packet that is used to return the information processing apparatus 101from the power saving mode is described below. The informationprocessing apparatus of this exemplary embodiment is returned to thenormal power mode when receiving a packet transmitted using the twonetwork communication protocols (hereinafter, referred to as protocols):SLP (Service Location Protocol) and WS-Discovery.

Both protocols use User Datagram Protocol (UDP) packets to search for anapparatus on a network by multicast transmission. A UDP packet iscomposed of, in sequence, an Ether header, an IP header, an UDP header,and application data.

The information processing apparatus 101 in the power saving mode ofthis exemplary embodiment determines whether or not the packet receivedby the network transmitting and receiving unit 315 is a packet thatrequires the return of the apparatus 101 from the power saving mode. Forthe determination, the information processing apparatus 101 has apredetermined fixed packet pattern (fixed pattern) therein. The fixedpattern is managed by the return information management unit 303, andsent to the sub-control unit 210 when the information processingapparatus 101 shifts into the power saving mode, to be held by thereturn information storage unit 312. The return information storage unit312 holds a plurality of fixed patterns. The plurality of fixed patternsincludes: a fixed pattern used to determine whether or not the receivedpacket is an SLP return packet; and a fixed pattern used to determinewhether or not the packet is a WS-Discovery packet. As described later,the return determination unit 313 in the sub-control unit 210 determineswhether the packet is the SLP return packet or the WS-Discovery packet,by comparison between the received packet and the fixed patterns.

FIG. 4 illustrates a fixed pattern for the SLP return packet. The items401 to 405 in FIG. 4 indicate the SLP packet. The SLP packet has data of“01 00 5e 7f ff fd” in the destination MAC address 401, data of “08 00”in the frame type 402, data of “17” in the protocol number 403, data of“239. 255. 255. 253” in the destination IP address 404, and data of“427” in the destination port number 405.

The data of the destination MAC address 401 corresponds to the first 6Bytes of a received packet. The data of the frame type 402 correspondsto the 13^(th) and 14^(th) Bytes of the received packet. The data of theprotocol number 403 corresponds to 24^(th) Bytes of the received packet.The data of the destination IP address 404 corresponds to 31^(st) to34^(th) Bytes of the received packet. The data of the destination portnumber 405 corresponds to 37^(th) and 38^(th) Bytes of the receivedpacket. Accordingly, the return determination unit 313 determines that areceived packet is an SLP packet in the case where the received packethas data in the above items that each match with the corresponding dataof the fixed pattern.

The items 406 to 408 in FIG. 4 are suggestive of an SLP packet forreturning. An SLP return packet has data of “2” in the version 406, dataof “wakeup” in the service type 407, and data of “abcde” in the scope408.

The data of the version 406 corresponds to the 43^(rd) Byte of thereceived packet. The data of the service type 407 corresponds to the63^(rd) to 68^(th) Byte of the received packet. The data of the scope408 corresponds to the 71^(st) to 75^(th) Byte of the received packet.Accordingly, the return determination unit 313 determines that areceived packet is an SLP return packet in the case where the receivedpacket has data in the above items (401 to 408) that each match with thecorresponding data of the fixed pattern.

When the information processing apparatus 101 receives a packet thatmatches with the fixed pattern in FIG. 4, the information processingapparatus 101 returns to the normal power mode. The pattern for an SLPreturn packet is only used to cause the information processing apparatus101 in the power saving mode to return to the normal power mode, and theinformation processing apparatus 101 does not return response to thereceived SLP packet.

A fixed pattern for a WS-Discovery packet is described below. FIG. 5illustrates a fixed pattern for a WS-Discovery packet. The items 501 to505 in FIG. 5 indicate a WS-Discovery packet. A WS-Discovery packet hasdata of “01 00 5e 7f ff fa” in the destination MAC address 501, data of“08 00” in the frame type 502, data of “17” in the protocol number 503,data of “239. 255. 255. 250” in the destination IP address 504, and dataof “3702” in the destination port number 505.

The data of the destination MAC address 501 corresponds to the first 6Bytes of a received packet. The data of the frame type 502 correspondsto the 13^(rd) and 14^(th) Bytes of the received packet. The data of theprotocol number 503 corresponds to 24^(th) Bytes of the received packet.The data of the destination IP address 504 corresponds to 31^(st) to34^(th) Bytes of the received packet. The data of the destination portnumber 505 corresponds to 37^(th) and 38^(th) Bytes of the receivedpacket. Accordingly, the return determination unit 313 determines that areceived packet is a WS-Discovery packet in the case where the receivedpacket has data in the above items that each match with thecorresponding data of the fixed pattern.

As described above, when a received packet is an SLP packet, the datacontents for the items 401 to 408 of the packet are compared with thosein the fixed pattern in FIG. 4. In a WS-Discovery packet, however,unlike an SLP packet, the succeeding data contents of the packet isdescribed in XML, and the data position in the packet cannot beidentified. This means the fixed pattern are useless in making adetermination with respect to the succeeding data contents. Therefore,in the cases where a received packet is determined to be a WS-Discoverypacket, the succeeding data contents are passed to XML parser foranalysis, so that the resulting analysis is used to finally determinewhether or not to return the information processing apparatus 101 fromthe power saving mode.

Among the commands defined by WS-Discovery protocol, a “Resolve” commandand a “Probe” command are used in this exemplary embodiment. The Resolvecommand is used to search for an apparatus having a predeterminedUniversally Unique Identifier (UUID) on a network. If the apparatus hasthe predetermined UUID, when receiving the Resolve command, aResolveMatch response via unicast is to be sent back. The UUID isunique, and only one apparatus responds to the Resolve command.

The Probe command is used to search for an apparatus having apredetermined service type on a network. The service type may be“Printer” for a printing service, or “Scanner” for a scanning service,for example. The apparatus with the predetermined service type, whenreceiving the Probe command, sends back a ResolveMatch response viaunicast. To the Probe command, all of the apparatuses having thepredetermined service type respond.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of the Resolve command in a WS-Discoverypacket in this exemplary embodiment. In FIG. 6, the element 602<wsd:Resolve> shows that the command is a Resolve command. Existence andnon-existence of blank spaces and blank lines make no difference inmeaning, as defined in XML. Similarly, the prefixed string of letters“wsd:” is defined in a namespace declaration 601, and any string ofletters can be used if a namespace is the same. In other words, theidentification of a Resolve command defined by WS-Discovery is based onthe interpretation of a namespace declaration in XML, and no prefixedstring of letters can be stored in advance. The UUID of an apparatus tobe searched for is specified by the element 603 <wsa:EndpointReference>.In the case where the element value matches with the UUID of theapparatus, the information processing apparatus 101 is determined toreturn from the power saving mode.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of a Probe command in a WS-Discoverypacket in this exemplary embodiment. In FIG. 7, the element 701<wsd:Probe>shows that the command is a Probe command. The abovedefinition in XML is also applied to the Probe command. In other words,existence and non-existence of blank spaces and blank lines make nodifference in meaning, as defined in XML. Similarly, the prefixed stringof letters “wsd:” is defined in a namespace declaration, and any stringof letters can be used if the namespace is same. In other words, theidentification of a Probe command defined by WS-Discovery is based onthe interpretation of a namespace declaration in XML, and no prefixedstring of letters can be stored in advance. The service type to besearched is specified by the element 702 <wsd:Types>. In the case wherethe element value matches with a service type of the apparatus, theinformation processing apparatus 101 is determined to return from thepower saving mode.

Next, operations by the sleep mode control unit 302 to cause the maincontrol unit 200 to shift from the normal power mode into the powersaving mode, are described with reference to the flowchart in FIG. 8.The steps in FIG. 8 are implemented by the MainCPU 210 in theinformation processing apparatus 101 according to the program in the ROM202.

At S801, the sleep mode control unit 302 monitors the period of timeelapsed after a last operation using an operation panel (notillustrated) or a last job entry for printing via a network on theinformation processing apparatus 101, and determines whether or not apredetermined period of time has passed. In cases where a next operationor job entry is made before a predetermined period of time passes, atimer is reset for subsequent monitoring of the time. In contrast, whenit is determined that a predetermined period of time has passed at S801,the process goes to S802. At S802, the sleep mode control unit 302obtains return information from the return condition control unit 303,and transmits the information to the Main-SubCPU communication unit 304.The return information used here will be described later. At S803, thesleep mode control unit 302 transmits an instruction to the power sourcecontrol unit 220 for transition to the power saving mode, then theprocess ends. The power control unit 220 stops power supply to the maincontrol unit 200.

FIG. 9 illustrates return information the sleep mode control unit 302transmits to the Main-SubCPU communication unit 304 at S802 of theflowchart in FIG. 8. The item 901 contains an IP address of theinformation processing apparatus 101. The item 902 contains informationabout whether to return at a receipt of an SLP return packet. The item903 contains information about whether to return at the time of areceipt of a WS-Discovery packet. In this exemplary embodiment, theitems 902 and 903 contain “ON” for returning from the power saving modeat a receipt of either packet. The values in the items 902 and 903 maybe changed and set if desired by a user such as a manager of theinformation processing apparatus 101.

The item 904 contains a UUID value of the information processingapparatus 101. The UUID is unique to the apparatus, and does not changeat power OFF/ON. The item 905 contains a service type the informationprocessing apparatus 101 provides. The item 905 contains “Printer” and“Scanner” for the information processing apparatus 101 in this exemplaryembodiment that provides a printing and a scanning service. The item 906contains a fixed pattern which is used to determine whether to returnthe information processing apparatus 101 from the power saving mode. Thereturn information of this exemplary embodiment includes two fixedpatterns (a first fixed pattern, and a second fixed pattern): a fixedpattern used in identifying a WS-Discovery packet; and a fixed patternused in identifying an SLP return packet.

The Main-SubCPU communication unit 304 transmits return informationreceived from the sleep mode control unit 302 to the Sub-MainCPUcommunication unit 311, and the return information storage unit 312 putsand stores the received return information in the RAM 213 (or the ROM212).

Operations by the return determination unit 313 while the informationprocessing apparatus 101 is in the power saving mode are described belowwith reference to the flowchart in FIG. 10. The steps in FIG. 10 areimplemented by the SubCPU 211 in the information processing apparatus101 according to the program in the ROM 212.

At S1001, the return determination unit 313 obtains a packet the networktransmitting and receiving unit 315 received from the network 103. AtS1002, the return determination unit 313 checks if the SLP packet isused for return. More specifically, the return determination unit 313refers to the return information contained in the item 902 of the returninformation (FIG. 9). In the case of the information of ON, the returndetermination unit 313 determines to return by the SLP return packet,and in the case of the information of OFF, the return determination unit313 determines not to return. The process goes to S1004 if non-return isdetermined, and goes to S1003 if return is determined.

At S1003, the return determination unit 313 compares the packet receivedat S1001 with the fixed pattern of an SLP return packet in FIG. 4 todetermine whether or not the received packet matches with the fixedpattern. The return determination unit 313 determines whether or not thereceived packet contains the data in the items 401 to 408 in FIG. 4., asdescribed above. If YES at S1003, the process goes to S1013, where thereturn determination unit 313 transmits an instruction for returning tothe power source control unit 220. At S1010, the return determinationunit 313 discards the packet received at S1001 and the process ends.

If NO at S1003, the process goes to S1004, where the returndetermination unit 313 determines whether to return the informationprocessing apparatus 101 by a WS-Discovery packet. More specifically,the return determination unit 313 refers to the return information (FIG.9) in the return information storage unit 312, and determines to returnthe information processing apparatus 101 by the WS-Discovery packet ifthe return information is ON, and determines not to return if the returninformation is OFF. In the case where non-return by the WS-Discoverypacket is determined, the process goes to S1010, and the returndetermination unit 313 discards the packet received at S1001 to end theprocess. In the case where return by the WS-Discovery packet isdetermined, the process goes to S1005.

At S1005, the return determination unit 313 determines whether or notthe packet received at S1001 is a WS-Discovery packet. The returndetermination unit 313 compares the packet received at S1001 with thefixed pattern for a WS-Discovery packet in FIG. 5 to determine whetheror not the received packet matches with the fixed pattern for theWS-Discovery packet. More specifically, the return determination unit313 determines whether or not the received packet contains the data inthe items 501 to 508 in FIG. 5. If No at S1005, the process goes toS1010, where the return determination unit 313 discards the packetreceived at S1001 to end the process. If YES at S1005, the process goesto S1006, where the return determination unit 313 transmits thesucceeding packet data to the XML processing unit 314. This is becausein the case where the received packet is a WS-Discovery packet, thesucceeding packet is XML data which is analyzed by the XML processingunit 314.

At S1007, the return determination unit 313 receives the analysis resultof the XML data from the XML processing unit 314. FIG. 11 illustrates anexample of the analysis result from the XML processing unit 314. Theitem 1101 contains an analyzed command of WS-Discovery, which isdescribed by one of Resolve, Probe, and unknown. The item 1102 containsYES information if the command is a Resolve command for searching for anUUID of the apparatus or a Probe command for searching for a servicetype of the apparatus, and otherwise contains NO information.

At S1008, the return determination unit 313 refers to the receivedanalysis result to determine whether or not the XML data is a Resolvecommand for searching for the apparatus. More specifically, the returndetermination unit 313 determines the data as a Resolve command in thecase where the received analysis result contains “Resolve” in the item1101. In addition to the determination, if “Yes” is described in theitem 1102, the return determination unit 313 determines that theapparatus matches with the search condition described in the XML data.In other words, if the “Resolve” is described in the item 1101 and “Yes”in the item 1102 in the analysis result, the data is determined to be aResolve command that was searching for the apparatus.

If Yes at S1008, the process goes to S1011, where the returndetermination unit 313 transmits an instruction for returning to thepower source control unit 220. At S1012, the return determination unit313 transmits the entire packet which it has received, to theSub-MainCPU communication unit 311 and the process ends. As a result,the received entire packet is sent to the main control unit 200 toanalyze XML data again at the main control unit 200. The main controlunit 200 generates response data (response XML data) to the XML data.The sub-control unit 210 does not generate response data (response XMLdata) to the XML data because the XML processing unit 314 in thesub-control unit 210 does not have a function to generate XML data. Thesub-control unit 210 is packaged with simple software only forinterpretation of XML, therefore less power is consumed in the powersaving mode.

If NO at S1008, the process goes to S1009. At S1009, the returndetermination unit 313 determines whether or not the analysis resultshows a Probe command that was searching for the apparatus. Morespecifically, the return determination unit 313 determines the result asa Probe command based on the description of “Probe” in the item 1101. Inaddition, if “Yes” is described in the item 1102, the returndetermination unit 313 determines that the apparatus matches with thesearch condition described in the XML data. In other words, if the“Probe” is described in the item 1101 and “Yes” in the item 1102 in theanalysis result, the XML data is determined to be a Probe command thatwas searching for the apparatus.

If Yes at S1009, the process goes to S1011, where the returndetermination unit 313 transmits an instruction for returning to thepower source control unit 220. At S1012, the return determination unit313 transmits the entire packet which it has received to the Sub-MainCPUcommunication unit 311 and the process ends.

After the process at S1012, the Sub-MainCPU communication unit 311transmits the received entire packet to the Main-SubCPU communicationunit 304. As a result, the received entire packet is processed in themain control unit 200.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating operations of the XML processingunit 314. The operations in the flowchart in FIG. 12 are performed whenthe XML processing unit 314 receives XML data from the returndetermination unit 313 at S1006 in FIG. 10. The steps in FIG. 12 areimplemented by the SubCPU 211 in the information processing apparatus101.

At S1201, the XML processing unit 314 receives XML data from the returndetermination unit 313. At S1202, the XML processing unit 314 obtainsreturn information from the return information storage unit 312. AtS1203, the XML processing unit 314 analyzes the XML data to determinewhether or not the XML data contains a Resolve element. In the analysis,a namespace name of “http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/ws/2005/04/discovery/”is specified. If a Resolve element is found, the process goes to S1204,where the XML processing unit 314 sets the resulting command value to be“Resolve”.

At S1205, the XML processing unit 314 obtains the value of anEndpointReference element in the XML data. When the value is obtained, anamespace name of “http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/ws/2004/08/addressing” isspecified. At S1206, the XML processing unit 314 determines whether ornot the obtained EndpointReference value matches with the UUID value 904of the return information. If there is a match, at S1207, the XMLprocessing unit 314 sets the resulting value of the apparatusinformation to be “Yes”. If there is no match, at S1208, the XMLprocessing unit 314 sets the resulting value of the apparatusinformation to be “No”. Then, at S1209, the XML processing unit 314transmits the process result to the return determination unit 313, andthe process ends.

If NO at S1203, the process goes to S1210, where the XML processing unit314 determines whether or not the XML data contains a Probe element. Inthe determination, a namespace name of“http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/ws/2005/04/discovery” is specified. If aProbe element is found, the process goes to S1211, where the XMLprocessing unit 314 sets the resulting command value to be “Probe”. AtS1212, the XML processing unit 314 obtains the values of Types elementsin the XML data. When the values are obtained, a namespace name of“http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/ws/2005/04/discovery” is specified. AtS1213, the XML processing unit 314 determines whether or not theobtained Types values include a value that matches with the service typevalue 905 in the return information. If Yes, at S1207, the XMLprocessing unit 314 sets the resulting value of the apparatusinformation to be “Yes”. If NO, at S1208, the XML processing unit 314sets the resulting value of the apparatus information to be “No”. Then,at S1209, the XML processing unit 314 transmits the process result tothe return determination unit 313, and the process ends.

If no Probe element is found at S1210, the process goes to S1214, wherethe XML processing unit 314 sets the resulting command value to be“unknown”. At S1209, the XML processing unit 314 transmits the processresult to the return determination unit 313, and the process ends.

As described above, according to this exemplary embodiment, when theinformation processing apparatus in the power saving mode receives apacket, operations for the packet transmission are performed dependingon the protocol. More specifically, the succeeding XML data may beanalyzed to determine whether the information processing apparatus isswitched to the normal power mode according to the analysis result.Thus, it can be determined whether the information processing apparatusis to return to the normal power mode, using the packet which is notuseful in the conventional apparatus, that can only check the packet formatching with a predetermined pattern. Therefore, the determination ofwhether the information processing apparatus is to return to the normalpower mode at the time of a receipt of a packet becomes more correct,and the power saving efficiency of the information processing apparatusis significantly improved. Furthermore, with respect to a packet thatdoes not require the analysis of XML data, or a packet that can bedetermined only by the matching with a predetermined pattern, no extraoperations are performed, and thereby the determination of return to thenormal power mode is efficiently made.

A second exemplary embodiment is now described below. In this exemplaryembodiment, an information processing apparatus 101 has degeneracyproperty. Degeneracy typically means that, even when apart of functionsbecomes impaired, the other normal functions are not stopped andcontinue to be used so that the overall operations continue. Forexample, the information processing apparatus 101 is able to receivedata for printing from the host computer 102 via a network and print thedata, without stopping the overall apparatus, even when a scanner (notillustrated) thereof fails to operate and reading of original documentcannot be carried out.

The information processing apparatus 101 checks a current degeneracystate thereof before shifting to the power saving mode, and respondsonly to Probe that searches for an operational service type beforereturning to the normal power mode. Thus, the possibility to maintainthe power saving mode is increased.

Only the difference between the first and second exemplary embodimentsis described, and the same operations will not be described below.

The information processing apparatus 101 of this exemplary embodimenthas a software configuration in the main control unit 200 which isdifferent from that of the information processing apparatus 101 in thefirst exemplary embodiment. The information processing apparatus 101 ofthis exemplary embodiment further includes a degeneracy state controlunit in a main control unit 200. The degeneracy state control unit isimplemented by a MainCPU 201. The degeneracy state control unit keeps acurrent degeneracy state of the information processing apparatus 101.

Operations of a sleep mode control unit 302 when the main control unit200 shifts to the power saving mode in this exemplary embodiment aredescribed below with reference to the flowchart in FIG. 13. The steps inFIG. 13 are implemented by the MainCPU 201.

At S1301, the sleep mode control unit 302 monitors the period of timeelapsed after a last operation in which an operation panel (notillustrated) or a last job entry for printing via a network on theinformation processing apparatus 101 is used, and determines whether ornot a predetermined period of time has passed. In cases where a nextoperation or job entry is made before a predetermined period of timepasses, a timer is reset for subsequent monitoring of the time. Incontrast, when it is determined that a predetermined period of time haspassed at S1301, the process goes to S1302. At S1302, the sleep modecontrol unit 302 obtains a degeneracy state from the degeneracy statecontrol unit 1401. In other words, the sleep mode control unit 302obtains information indicating a service type the information processingapparatus 101 can provide at the moment.

At S1303, the sleep mode control unit 302 obtains return informationfrom the return condition control unit 303. The sleep mode control unit302 changes the return information based on the degeneracy stateobtained at S1302, and transmits the resulting information to theMain-SubCPU communication unit 304. For example, even if there areoriginally two available services of printing and scanning and thereturn condition control unit 303 has the information for the printingservice and scanning service, when the scanner is out of service, onlythe “Printer” is described in the item 1005 in FIG. 10 as the returninformation. At S1304, the sleep mode control unit 302 transmits aninstruction to the power source control unit 220 for shifting to thepower saving mode, and the process ends.

As described above, the determination for returning to the normal powermode is made in this exemplary embodiment in a more cautious manner thanthat in the first exemplary embodiment, by taking consideration of acurrent state of the information processing apparatus 101. Every timethe information processing apparatus 101 shifts to the power savingmode, the service the information processing apparatus 101 can provideat the moment is checked, which is kept in the sub-control unit. Thismaintains the power saving mode more efficiently, and further improvesthe power saving efficiency of the information processing apparatus.

The SLP and WS-Discovery in the above exemplary embodiments are used asexamples of protocols (a first protocol and a second protocol)processible by an information processing apparatus, and other protocolsmay also be used. For example, Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP)may be used. Also, the XML data in the above exemplary embodiments isused as an example of data description languages, and other datadescription language such as HTML data may be used.

Furthermore, in the above exemplary embodiments, both of the maincontrol unit and the sub-control unit are physically incorporated in oneinformation processing apparatus, but the main control unit and thesub-control unit may be physically incorporated in separate housings. Inthe latter case, the main control unit is directly connected to thesub-control unit using a predetermined interface (e.g., USB, CentronicsI/F, LAN), so that the main control unit and the sub-control unit formone information processing system.

Other Embodiments

Aspects of the present invention can also be realized by a computer of asystem or apparatus (or devices such as a CPU or MPU) that reads out andexecutes a program recorded on a memory device to perform the functionsof the above-described embodiment(s), and by a method, the steps ofwhich are performed by a computer of a system or apparatus by, forexample, reading out and executing a program recorded on a memory deviceto perform the functions of the above-described embodiment(s). For thispurpose, the program is provided to the computer for example via anetwork or from a recording medium of various types serving as thememory device (e.g., computer-readable medium).

While the present invention has been described with reference toexemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of thefollowing claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all modifications, equivalent structures, and functions.

What is claimed is:
 1. A printing apparatus having a plurality ofservices including at least a printing service and a scanning service,the printing apparatus comprising: a first control unit configured toreceive a packet transmitted from an external apparatus; a secondcontrol unit configured to generate response data responding to thepacket; and a power supply unit configured to supply power to the secondcontrol unit, wherein, in a case where power is not supplied to thesecond control unit by the power supply unit and the packet received bythe first control unit is a search packet for searching for a devicehaving a specific service, the first control unit is configured todetermine whether the printing apparatus itself has the specific servicespecified by the search packet, in a case where it is determined thatthe printing apparatus itself has the specific service specified by thesearch packet, the first control unit is configured to cause the powersupply unit to supply power to the second control unit which generatesthe response data and uses the response data in responding to thepacket, in a case where it is determined that the printing apparatusitself does not have the specific service specified by the searchpacket, the second control unit remains without power from the powersupply unit and the first control unit does not respond to the packet,at least in a case where the specific service specified by the searchpacket is the printing service, the first control unit determines thatthe printing apparatus itself has the specific service specified by thesearch packet, and at least in a case where the specific servicespecified by the search packet is the scanning service, the firstcontrol unit determines that the printing apparatus itself has thespecific service specified by the search packet.
 2. The printingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in a case where it isdetermined that the printing apparatus itself does not have the specificservice specified by the search packet, the first control unit discardsthe search packet.
 3. The printing apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the search packet is a WS-Discovery packet.
 4. The printingapparatus according to claim 3, wherein the specific service subjectedto the searching is specified by a Probe command of the WS-Discoverypacket.
 5. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, furthercomprising: a setting unit configured to set service informationindicating the plurality of services), wherein it is determined whetherthe printing apparatus itself has the specific service subjected to thesearching which is specified by the search packet, based on the serviceinformation set by the setting unit.
 6. The printing apparatus accordingto claim 5, wherein the setting unit sets the service information forthe first control unit when the power supply unit supplies power to thesecond control unit.
 7. A method for controlling printing apparatushaving a plurality of services including at least a printing service anda scanning service, the printing apparatus including a first controlunit configured to receive a packet transmitted from an externalapparatus, a second control unit configured to generate response dataresponding to the packet and a power supply unit configured to supplypower to the second control unit, the control method comprising:receiving, by the first control unit, a packet transmitted from anexternal apparatus; determining, by the first control unit, in a casewhere power is not supplied to the second control unit and the receivedpacket is search packet for searching for a device having a specificservice, whether the printing apparatus itself has the specific servicespecified by the search packet; supplying power to the second controlunit to generate response data and use the response data in respondingto the packet, in a case where it is determined that the printingapparatus itself has the specific service specified by the searchpacket, causing the second control unit to remain without power and notrespond to the packet in a case where it is determined that the printingapparatus itself does not have the specific service by the searchpacket, wherein at least in a case where the specific service specifiedby the search packet is the printing service, the first control unitdetermines that the printing apparatus itself has the specific servicespecified by the search packet, and at least in a case where thespecific service specified by the search packet is the scanning service,the first control unit determines that the printing apparatus itself hasthe specific service specified by the search packet.
 8. A non-transitorystorage medium for an printing apparatus having a plurality of servicesincluding at least a printing service and a scanning service, theprinting apparatus including a first control unit configured to receivea packet transmitted from an external apparatus, a second control unitconfigured to generate response data responding to the packet and apower supply unit configured to supply power to the second control unit,the control method, the storage medium containing instructions for aprocessor, the instructions, when executed by the processor, performoperations comprising: receiving, by the first control unit, a packettransmitted from an external apparatus; determining, by the firstcontrol unit, in a case where power is not supplied to the secondcontrol unit and the received packet is search packet for searching fora device having a specific service, whether the printing apparatus hasthe specific service specified by the search packet; and supplying powerto the second control unit to generate response data and use theresponse data in responding to the packet, in a case where it isdetermined that the printing apparatus itself has the specific servicespecified by the search packet, and, causing the second control unit toremain without power and not respond to the packet in a case where it isdetermined that the printing apparatus itself does not have the specificservice by the search packet, wherein at least in a case where thespecific service specified by the search packet is the printing service,the first control unit determines that the printing apparatus itself hasthe specific service specified by the search packet, and at least in acase where the specific service specified by the search packet is thescanning service, the first control unit determines that the printingapparatus itself has the specific service specified by the searchpacket.